Cranston Mayor Allan Fung assembles team for possible run for governor

Tuesday

Sep 10, 2013 at 1:24 PM

CRANSTON, R.I. -- Mayor Allan Fung has assembled a team to guide him in a possible run for governor.

Paul Davis wmpdavis

CRANSTON, R.I. -- Mayor Allan Fung has assembled a team to guide him in a possible run for governor.

Fung announced the formation of an exploratory team in a press release Tuesday.

The team includes former Governors Donald Carcieri and Lincoln Almond and Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian.

For months, the Republican mayor has said he is "seriously considering" a run for the governor's seat.

In April, he hired Patrick Sweeney's Targeted Strategies to help with database management and other campaign work.

Sweeney -- a former executive director of the state Republican Party -- served as campaign manager for Barry Hinckley's run for U.S. Senate in 2012.

Fung said it has become “abundantly clear” that Rhode Islanders looking for a leader “who has both the private and public sector experience necessary to get Rhode Islanders back to work and get this state back on track.”

Fung said his exploratory team will determine “whether or not my experience and skill set can help lead Rhode Island into better times. Having been born and raised in Rhode Island, I am heartbroken to see so many Rhode Islanders hurting. People are telling me they are worried about paying their mortgage, putting food on the table, and having enough money to fill their tank for the next job interview. This is unacceptable,” he said.

For far too long, he added “we have been branded as the worst place to start or run a business, one of the top three states in unemployment, one of the worst states in the country in total tax burden, the second worst state in population growth, and one of the worst states for retirees. We need to change direction and we need to do it fast,” Fung said.